Little babies come with lots of stuff, and as you start to pull together your newborn essentials list, you soon start to realise there’s more to prepare than you thought.
We’ll help you navigate through this newborn checklist, breaking it down into everything you need for a newborn.
In this list of newborn essentials, we will cover:
• Large baby gear
• Baby clothes and outfits
• Sleeping essentials
• Bathing and changing essentials
Large baby gear recommendations
From prams, to the cot, to the car seat, these are your largest and most likely the most expensive items on your list. They’re also some of the most important items when it comes to the safety of your baby, so don’t rush when weighing up your options on these items.
Which bed to choose for my baby?
Moses basket, bassinet or cot: depending on your preference, the safest place for a newborn to sleep is in their own bed. This should be completely clear with a firm, flat, waterproof mattress.
• Space-saving: If you live in a flat, a smaller, more compact bassinet that you can wheel from room-to-room is a great idea, such as this SnuzPod Studio Bedside Crib.
• Long-lasting: If you’re lucky on space and can fit a full size cot into your bedroom, then we’d recommend a cot that will convert from a newborn bed to a toddler bed - You’ll get more for your money. You can also get cot top changers such as these ones from Tutti Bambini.
• Flexibility: Moses baskets are a great idea for people who have chosen to get baby a cot for the bedroom upstairs, as it allows you to have another safe sleep space downstairs - moses baskets are not expensive and you can get them for around £80.
• Best for being mobile: Had a c-section or planning to exclusively breastfeed? Then a bedside crib might be your best option - these allow you to fold down the side so you can almost slide baby out of their bed and into yours, without having to lean and bend over repeatedly.
Which pram is the best?
With so many prams to choose from, it can seem really daunting. Choose based on your lifestyle.
Live in a city? A more compact pram such as the Babyzen YoYo might make it easier to navigate narrow streets and public transport.
Live in the countryside and love your nature walks? Then an all-terrain pushchair might be more suitable for you - check out Made For Mums top 10 all-terrain prams here.
When it comes to choosing a changing bag, make sure it fits under the pram you’ve chosen - you can also opt for a backpack style if you plan to use both a pram and a baby carrier.
Which car set does my baby need?
Understanding what car seat you need can feel very overwhelming. We suggest reading through this NHS guide on car seat safety first.
There are many retailers who will also offer support and guidance on choosing the right car seat for your model of car and the weight/ height of your baby, including offering car fitting demonstrations; John Lewis and Halfords offer this service with an in-store expert who is trained to offer correct advice.
Second-hand car seats are not recommended.
Best baby play gyms and bouncers?
Baby bouncer/ rocker:
Once baby starts to be a bit more alert and is awake for longer periods of time, you can start to put them into a baby bouncer/ rocker up until the age of 6 months, or when they can sit up unaccompanied.
Just be mindful that if they fall asleep, their designated safe sleeping space ie. Their cot or bassinet is the best place for them to nap, not their bouncer.
Playmats and play gyms:
You will need a flat, comfortable surface where baby can practice their tummy time each day, ideally this should be kept clean and only used for baby.
You don’t need to buy a super expensive or flashy play-gym, even a simple playmat such as this one from John Lewis will do the trick. Baby prefers to look at your face than dangling toys anyway.
Baby clothes and outfits
Now we have the boring bits out the way, we can move onto the cute stuff - what baby clothes and outfits will I need? Although you can be tempted to buy endless adorable onesies and baby accessories, a lot of these things are just not needed and likely won’t get used.
You can check out the NHS guide to dressing your newborn here. Let’s walk through the essentials:
Sleepsuits:
For the first 3 months, baby will most likely be asleep more than they’re awake. So a set of 7 sleepsuits (depending on how often you do your laundry) will be enough to cover you.
Pro tip: opt for zip up sleepsuits that have built in scratch mitts, they’re much easier to work with during the nighttime changes.
Bodysuits:
You’ll need about 7 of these too. Buy the right sleeve length based on the season your baby will be born in. If they’re a summer baby, opt for short sleeves. If they’re a winter baby, opt for long sleeves.
Pro tip: buy your bodysuits and sleepsuits in a similar colour palette to avoid multiple wash loads.
Baby accessories hat & socks:
For summer babies, you’ll need a wide-brim sun hat to protect them from the sun, and for winter babies, you’ll need a soft winter hat to keep them warm. You’ll also need socks to keep their feet warm, but in the summer months, you can let them explore barefoot.
Pramsuit:
When you’re taking baby out and about, you’ll need a pramsuit to keep them warm - again, depending on the season your baby will be born in, you can buy an extra cuddly one or a more lightweight one. For summer babies, a blanket might be enough on hot days.
Cardigan:
Cardigans are much easier to take on and off a newborn, and are a great option for adding an extra layer if baby is born in the winter months.
Sleeping essentials
When it comes to the list of sleep essentials you’ll need, safety is key. We would always recommend following The Lullaby Trust and NHS when it comes to recommendations on sleep products and guidance on safe sleep practice.
The sleep items you will need:
• Firm, flat, waterproof mattress: a clear and flat cot is best for baby’s safety. You can also buy waterproof mattress covers.
• Fitted cotton cot sheets: baby’s bed sheets should be lightweight, fitted and ideally cotton.
• Sleep bag or swaddle muslin: If choosing to use a sleep bag, you can choose the tog based on the season your baby will be born, as well as their size. For summer babies, 0.5-1 tog will likely be enough, whereas babies born in winter might need a 2.5 tog sleeping bag. When it comes to swaddling, you can use a large muslin cloth or thin cot sheet. Check out The Lullaby Trust’s safety guide on swaddling here. It is recommended to stop swaddling when baby can roll over.
Check out The Lullaby Trust’s guide on How To Choose Baby Sleeping Products here.
Bathing and changing essentials
Newborn babies require a lot of nappy changes, sometimes up to 12 a day when they’re really little. So being well equipped with the right nappy changing essentials is key.
Newborn essential checklist:
• Nappies: you’ll need lots of these in the early days, expect that you’ll need around 10-12 nappies per day. We recommend buying in bulk quantities. There are many nappy brands that offer monthly subscriptions now, including Amazon, so you don’t need to worry about running out of nappies. Wondering what size you’ll need? Check out Pampers nappy size guide here. If you’re contemplating reusable nappies then check out the Nappy Lady, who offers information on all the reusable nappy brands in the UK, as well as info about schemes to help get you started.
• Baby changing mat: you’ll be using this everyday all day, so we recommend getting one that can easily be wiped clean. You can also use a towel instead and change this regularly.
• Nappy rash cream: there are many to choose from, and definitely worth having handy for if and when baby gets a little bit of nappy rash. Make sure baby is changed often to avoid nappy rash.
• Nappy sacks: for pooey nappies, scented nappy sacks can hold off bad smells. You can also get biodegradable nappy sacks.
• Cotton wool/ baby wipes: for the first few weeks it is recommended to use cotton wool and warm water instead of baby wipes. If using baby wipes, opt for ones that are free from fragrance and alcohol.
• Towel: you’ll need a couple of towels for bath time. Some babies also prefer to be wrapped in a towel or muslin during their bath.
• Nail scissors: you’ll be surprised how long their nails will grow - get ones with curved ends designed for using on baby nails. Pro tip: if baby wiggles or cries when you try to cut their nails, you can trim them while they nap.
Having a baby is an exciting time, as shopping for their little bits can really make it all seem so real! It can also feel a bit overwhelming in terms of what to get and what to avoid, so we hope this guide has been helpful.
Why not check out our other guide on How To Navigate The Newborn Phase here.
